Thursday, January 31, 2008

An Awesome God




While reading from one of Max Lucado's newsletters today, I was captured by a couple of statements that he made. The first was about a newborn baby being born and inhaling its first breath, and God measured that breath. WOW!
The next was God bats an eyelash and all of nature jumps. WOW again!

For some reason these two things struck me as so amazing, when in fact this is how amazed we should be all the time when we think of God. We should not have to wait for someone to say something beautiful like this to catch our attention. Our attention should always be focused on the magnificence of God. Everyday we open our eyes and get out of bed on our own, anytime we look at a newborn baby, when we pick fresh vegetables or flowers from our garden that we planted, when we visit the Redwoods or just taking a walk through your own backyard. There are miracles of God everywhere we look. How about when we see a nest filled with new born birds. We have just gotten so accustomed to these little miracles, that we take them for granted and we don't seem to notice until someone says something about them in a beautiful way.

When we go out into the world today, see how many miracles you can count and jot them down and then the next day go back and do the same and see how many you missed the first time around because you are so used to seeing them.

Let's all slow down our pace and take time to enjoy the beautiful things in the world God has given us, and take our minds off the negative things of the world for once.

1 Pet. 3 v 3- 4.... Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel; rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God....

Now I know these scriptures were telling how a woman is to be submissive to her husband and how she is to present herself to him, but I think this is the way God wants us to see all of His creation. He doesn't want us to look just on the top of the surface, but He wants us to really take a good hard look at things, or people and see the heart in the center. When you see a guy on the street begging that needs a bath, take the image you have of Jesus in your mind, and replace with this man's image. Because that is who you are really looking at. Not the dirty appearance but the heart of Jesus asking for your help. That is how Jesus sees him, so lets see if we can spend the day looking at the world through Jesus' eyes and not our own.

Neta

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Can You Feel Your Calling From the Lord?




Have you felt your calling from the Lord? Do you know what it is that God wants you to do for His Kingdom? After getting closer to Him over these past few weeks, I have finally found the direction God is leading me. While listening to Rob read the word to me one night, I was thinking how calming it was to sit and listen to the word of God being read. I immediately thought of a friend back home whose brother in law is in a coma like state, and how maybe if someone could just gently, softly read to him out of the book of 1 John, and then out of the book of John, I feel his spirit would rise up in him and give him peace so that he may be healed. This brought to my mind how many people are not able to hear the word of God, because they are shut ins with no one to read to them, maybe they are like this young man in a state that they can not physically ask someone to read to them. Maybe they can not see well enough to read, or maybe they are blind. Whatever the reason, I just thought what a good ministry in itself to go out and read the word of God to others. Not to go out to preach, but just to go out and bring the word of God to those who are unable to get it elsewhere. As a child and growing up I read all the time. Reading was one of my favorite past times. Then for a brief time that I belonged to the Catholic church, I was a lector. (One of the people who get up to read the word before each Mass). God was preparing me to read before large groups of people. And now God has led me to this scripture in Luke.

LUKE 4 vs 18-19..."The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."...

This was Jesus speaking of Himself. But I feel the Lord is saying this is to be all of our callings as Christians, to make sure the gospel is brought to the poor, people being healed, freedom from oppression. We may not all be called to be ministers, pastors, teachers, etc. But we can most of us all read. We can share the word of God. And I believe we are all called to be evangelist for Christ. The word evangelist simply means to be excited, to plead your cause, to incite others to believe, to be an advocate for a cause. We should all be excited about the word of God and want others to hear and be just as excited to hear the good news, (The Gospel.) If we can not take the word ourself in person then I believe it is our job to make sure we support those who do, so that there is no reason for the word not to be carried throughout the world due to lack of funds. Get hooked up with a mission that takes the word of God to those who can not get it otherwise and know that it is the same as you bringing it to them personally. That should bring you a blessing just knowing you are working in God's kingdom.

Pray for me, as I follow in the Lord's direction to start a bible reading ministry. And I likewise will pray for each of you, that the Lord put on your heart a calling or a mission to help support and get His word carried forth.

Neta

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Why Do We Rise Early To Pray?





This old world is so full of junk, and evil, that we need to rise early and start our day off with the LORD, before we are attacked by the things of the world. All through out the word, we read where people would rise early to worship the Lord, to pray for strength, or whatever needs they may have had. For me, it helps to put me in the spirit of the Lord and not the spirit of the world and of the flesh. It seems when I start my day with the Lord, everything seems to be more at peace and easier to handle throughout the day.

PS 5 vs 1-3...Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, for to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up....
PS 5 vs 8...Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face....

PS 5 vs 11-12..But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield...

Do you see all the good in these verses about what happens when you start your day off with trusting in Him. He will lead you in the right directions, He will keep your enemies at bay, He will make straight His way to you, He will defend you against the evils of the world, and surround you with His favor. Think about that for just a minute. When you start out this way, you are walking in His presence, in His midst, you are favored above others. This could be especially good, when you are needing His help in a situation, such as looking for a job, or applying for a loan to buy a new house, maybe needing a good report for a health check up or going into some sort of surgery or just whatever it is that you need favor in. And not just any favor, but the favor of God. It doesn't get any better than that.

So doesn't it make sense to start your day off with lifting your voices to Him in praise and prayer?

PS 88 v 13...But to You I have cried out, O Lord, and in the morning my prayer comes before You...

PS 92 vs 1-2...It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your loving-kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night...

So let us each one arise early and start our day with the Lord. Let's make this a habit and then watch the enemy flee before he can even get started good on trying to foul up our day.

Neta

Monday, January 28, 2008

Jealous & Envious of Others?




Before becoming a Christian, I can remember times when I would get jealous over a friend spending more time with another friend than with me, or envious because my friends were going and doing things that I could not afford to do. Or severe jealousy over my husband at that time, to the point that it caused a divorce. But now, I feel as though I have grown out of those petty jealousies and envying others, UNTIL..... we were at my younger son's wedding and my older son spent time with my cousin and my nieces who love him as much as I do, and I found myself jealous of their relationship. When I myself have a great relationship with them and always wanted them to be close with my boys. I felt really bad later and I had to ask for forgiveness and ask the Lord to take the spirit of envy and jealousy out of my heart and my spirit.

Then when reading today in Mark 3 vs 32-35...and a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking you." But He answered them saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and Mother."....

Then the Lord showed me, that once we become Christians we all belong to Him, and not to each other. My jealousy over my son with his cousins was like me saying he was mine and I did not want to share him with others. But the truth is, he is not mine, he belongs to the Lord. And we as Christians have the right to spend as much time with other Christians as we would like without having to worry about someone becoming jealous or envious. In fact when we do become jealous or envious we are actually sinning. Jealousy and envy is a sin of satan and is not of Christ, and if this applies to us, then we need to quickly repent and ask forgiveness so that we may grow and open our hearts so that we may receive more from the LORD.

Song of Solomon 8 vs 6b...Jealousy as cruel as the grave; its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame....

Prov. 14 vs 30....A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.....
Sometimes, it is the little things that we do not call sin, or recognize as sin that is keeping us from receiving our healing or our blessings. So ask the Lord today to forgive you when you may have been jealous or envious of another, and He will be quick to do so. Satan is good at disguising his ways. Don't be fooled or in denial over these things that seem so small, as small as they may seem, they carry huge consequences such as illness, diseases, hatred, anger all the things that can destroy your body. Look closely at yourself today, and see if you need cleansing in any of these areas, and then watch the Lord heal you of other things as you cleanse these from your spirit.

Neta

Friday, January 25, 2008

Has Greed Ever Tried to Take You Over?


Over & over in the Bible we read stories of people who tried to pull one over on God, only to be struck down with some horrible disease or worse dead. Two stories that come to my mind are Gehazi in 2 Kings 5 and then Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5.

2 Kings 5 tells us of a man who was the commander of the army for the King of Syria. He was a man of valor but was stricken with leprosy. His servant girl who waited on his wife told him of a prophet in Israel who could heal him of his leprosy. He goes, and Elisha sends a messenger to the door to tell him to go and dip in the Jordan 7 times and he will be cleansed. He gets all irate thinking first of all, that Elisha should have come to him himself, rather than send a messenger and second that he should have waved his arms around and called down fire from heaven or something more spectacular than telling him to go jump in the river. Well, his servants talked him into doing just as Elisha had said, and he was healed. He had brought lots of riches to pay Elisha, but Elisha would not take any pay for this work. But his servant Gehazi was standing by and overheard and saw the great riches this man had so he waited until he got down the road some, and then he went running after him and told him that Elisha had sent him for 2 talents of silver and 2 garments for his sons. Naaman gladly gave these things to him. So Gehazi went back, hid the silver and garments in his house and then went before Elisha.

2 Kings 5 vs 25-27...Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, "Where did you go, Gehazi"? And he said, "your servant did not go anywhere." Then he said to him, "did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever." And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow....

My first thought is how long had Gehazi been serving Elisha that he wouldn't know that Elisha would know that he was lying? My next thought was, how sad for Gehazi's descendants to be cursed now and forever because of Gehazi's greed.

Then over in Acts 5 vs 1-11 we see the story of Ananias & Saphira. They had some land and was going to sell it to give to the apostles to help the people in need. Only when they sold the land, they got greedy with what they had and held some back for themselves. But then they lied about it.

Acts. 5 vs 3....But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?"

Acts 5 vs 5....Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things....

Then Saphira, his wife comes in, and she doesn't know what has happened to Ananias, so she lies also as her and Ananias had agreed upon.

Acts. 5 vs 9...Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last....

How many times have we tried to bargain with God, saying Lord if you will do this or that, then I will do this or that. God is not in the business of making bargains. His word tells us what we are to do, and then we alone have to make the decision to do right. The Holy Spirit is there guiding us, but the ultimate final decision is ours.

When you make a commitment to your church, it is the same as if you made it with God Himself. When you belong to a church, you are obligated by God to pay your tithes to that church. This is not something that is between you and the church this is between you and God. So when you hold back your tithes you are doing the same as Ananias, Saphira, and Gehazi. You are letting greed take over your spirit. But if you will do what the word says, I promise you, God will provide and you will have a more fruitful life.

Mal. 3 vs 8-10...Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, In what way have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, If I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it....

It costs money to run a church, you have electric bills, water bills, bldg. and grounds payments,staff to pay, etc. When God says to bring into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house, He is saying to pay what you owe, so the bills can be paid, and the Pastor has a place to bring in the sheep and feed them the word of God. Think of the church as a barn for all God's sheep and a place for them to come out of the storms (trials of their lives) into a safe place and be fed. (the word of God) The next time you get ready to hold back your tithes, think how many sheep may be left out in the cold and not receiving the word of God, because you didn't do your part. If you have a family member or loved one that needs the word of God, wouldn't you want them to have a place to go and be fed?

Neta

Thursday, January 24, 2008

A Tid-Bit Of Time


As I was reading my bible this morning, I just stopped to thank the Lord for all the time we have spent with Him in His word since starting this TV fast. And it came to my attention, that before I was only giving Him a tid-bit of my time. Hence the name God's tid-bits to me. Now I get so much more from Him each day, that most of my tid-bits are coming to me a week before you get them. He gives me sometimes 3 or 4 in one day. But I continue to feed them back to you one day at a time. So when you say wow, that was really a word for me today, that is just confirmation of the word He gave me 3 or 4 days earlier. God Is So Good!
Rob and I have really grown since starting this fast. When he gets home from work, we eat supper and then get right into the word of God. Then we go into prayer for all those that have asked us to pray for them, and then also for those who have not asked. Then we pray in the Spirit until we go to bed. Praying for whatever God knows we need to pray for, but we do not. Our Spirit prays out to the Father in His understanding and not ours. We feel so blessed each night before we go to sleep.
Our entire home is like a new place, as we feel refreshed and renewed. You can feel the Spirit of God everywhere. It reminds me of Spring cleaning and Fall clean up. Everything seems fresh and new.
PS 51 vs 10-11...Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me....
This scripture says it all. I can honestly say, since doing this fast that I always feel His Spirit about me. Rob says the same for him.
We didn't really think we were watching anything too bad on TV, (CSI shows, Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, the new series Cane) but when you really take a good look at what we were watching, you have, lots of violence, adultery, sex, ghostly spirits, and really sick minds and did I say lots of violence?
Well, you know what they say, what goes up must come down, well it is also said that what you feed into your spirit has to come out at some time or other. Maybe you have problems sleeping at night, maybe you are always suspicious of others, maybe you get startled easily. These evil spirits will try to live in you for as long as they can, so that they can corrupt your minds. This is how the enemy gets a foothold into your heart. The more you watch the more you feed them. You may say, Oh, it is not hurting anything by watching those shows. Well, I do not know about you, but I have been set free from that lie of the enemy, once we started this Fast from TV.
We have both said, how we can just feel our bodies being healed and energized with so much positive and not all that negative junk we were seeing on TV. Because, really if you think about it, everything we were watching was negative in some way.
We have already decided that we will probably keep our fast going past the 21 days that we committed to the Lord. Why give up a good thing?
You know the health experts tell us we should do a cleanse and a fast at least twice a year to clean all the impurities out of our bodies. Well, I think we should include things of this world in that fast, ie. TV, some movies, some novels. I mean if we really wanted to cleanse our entire body, including our minds, our hearts in other words our spirit.
Check and see if it is time for you to do some spring cleaning around your spirit man's house, and let God create a clean and renewed spirit in you.


Neta

A correction on tid-bits from Tues.

In Tues. tid-bits, I said that no one had reported seeing God the Father or Jesus here on earth. For some they may not understand that I was talking about since Jesus went to be with the Father in heaven. Yes, He was here on the earth at one time. But I mean He has not came back for us yet! When He does, we will know, and it won't be because someone saw His image, it will be Him.
Just thought that may need clearing up for any who mistook what I was saying.
Thanks for reading. And your comments are welcomed on the blog site at the bottom of each tid-bit.


God Bless
Neta

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Are You A Back Seat Driver?


While reading my devotional the other day, the writer used an analogy about how when we cast our cares on the Lord, it is like we give Him the car keys. He put it like this:
If you tossed someone your car keys, then a few minutes later someone asked you to move your car, you would not be able to, because you no longer have the keys to start the car, and the guy you tossed them to has already left.
That is how if we truly cast our cares on the Lord, we should not be able to take them back if we really cast them over to Him to start with.
This was really a good way to put this, and while dealing with something that day, I thought, Nope, I am just going to toss you the keys Lord. Then a little while later I started thinking about this situation again, and immediately the Holy Spirit called me a Back Seat Driver. That kind of shut up my thoughts real quick. Rob is always telling me I am an awful back seat driver, so he just agreed to let me drive all the time. Well, the Lord is not agreeing to that. He says cast your cares and don't take them back.
How many of you are like me, and you still think you can drive that car and handle it better than the driver? Only, this time the driver is the Lord! Ouch! How sad is that? We think we know how to handle our problems better than He does. We may say we don't think that way but, if we are picking our concerns back up after casting them to Him, then that is exactly what we are saying.
1 Pet 5 vs 7...casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you....
What about that song, " I surrender all Lord" did we really? If we did, then we would never have another worried thought or fret over anything else again. You see, we would like to think that we have turned it over to the Lord, but when we worry about our kids, or worry over any situation, we are picking our cares back up and not casting them over to Him.
PS 37 vs 8b....do not fret--it only causes harm....
Matthew 6 vs 26-27..".Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?".....
Matthew 6 vs 34.."Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble"....
I would like to think that I could make a conscious effort from now on, every time I start to worry over something that I would stop and say I'm sorry Lord, I did say you could drive, didn't I? And then sit back and enjoy the scenery, because you know it is going to be good if He is driving.


Neta

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

How Do We Know Jesus Is The Way?


The best way I can explain this, on the basis that this is the way the Holy Spirit gave it to me.
Read John 3 vs 5-21 ( I know some of you were thinking, I have heard John 3vs16 over and over again, well, maybe so, but did you go and read for yourself and read the before and after verses?)

John 3 vs 5-8....Jesus answered, "Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, "You must be born again."
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from, and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.".....

John 3 vs 10-21...."Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?Most assuredly I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our Witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.".....

Now let me break it down the way I see it, and I hope this helps you to see more clearly when people ask why do we say, only believers in Jesus as the Messiah, the one and only Son of God are going to heaven.

In the first part of scripture here, Jesus says unless you are born of water and Spirit, unless you are born again. In other words, you have to receive the Holy Spirit, (who is Jesus) in you. Jesus is saying if you can not believe what you see how can He expect you to believe what you can not see. Therefore that is why He gives us the Spirit to reveal to us the Truth. The truth being Jesus.

Now that we have established what He was referring to as being born of the Spirit, we see where He tells us, that He did not come into the world to condemn us, but to save us, if we will believe in Him. He says that if we believe in Him we will spend eternal life with Him and the Father in His Father's Kingdom. Where is the kingdom. Heaven! (some of you might say well some people say we are there now), I have to say that is not true, because the word tells us that we will see Jesus' Face and we will stand before Him and the Father when we get to heaven. As far as I know, no one has reported seeing the Father (GOD) or Jesus here on this earth! I think I would have heard about something as great as that happening. Don't You? And I do not mean seeing His image in a potato or a piece of toast!

Rev. 22 vs4-5...They shall see His face,and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there; They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever...

He says in the last part that those who do not believe remain in darkness, (evil). In other words they will not be in His kingdom, where the Light is, because He is the Light and there is no darkness where God and the Son dwell so you can not go to heaven if you are living in darkness. In other words this is the condemnation He spoke of. That you will remain in darkness, which is (death) if you do not accept Him as the way to the Light.

God says, that the only way to the Father is through His only begotten Son, Jesus. So you have to know Jesus in order to live in eternity with the Father. Your flesh can not live forever, it will die. Jesus says, die to your flesh now, and come to Him, and He will keep you from death in eternity.

Matthew 16 vs 25...For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it....

PS 89 vs 48....What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave?....

We do not have the power to raise ourselves up from the grave. But Jesus does, and has already defeated death for us. So that when Christians die, they go to be with Jesus and the Father in heaven.

2 Cor. 5 vs 6-7....So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the LORD...

So it really does all come back to John 3 vs 16...For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life...

We have determined that your flesh will perish, but if you have the spirit of Jesus in you, you will not perish but live in eternity with Him and the Father.
Never tell someone they are going to Hell, that is not your place, your assignment as a Christian is to share the Love of Jesus and the plan of salvation with others, They have to choose to accept Jesus as the only way. They are the only ones who can make that decision. It is called free will, what God gave to each of us.

Neta

Friday, January 18, 2008

What Part Are You Not Happy With?



There is always someone in the church, (which is the body of Christ) that is going to complain about this or that. The problem is when you don't like the way something is done, then you should examine yourself and see do you have the ability to do better. Did God put on your heart this particular ministry? If not, then that is probably not what you should be doing. Or if you come up with an idea, about how to start a new program your church is needing, then if God showed that idea to you, then you should go to your pastor and see how YOU can get that program started. But don't just start a program, then try to pass off to someone else when you get tired of doing it. No, God gave it to you, so it is your responsibility to carry it through.
You see every part of the body of Christ is just as important as the next. From cleaning toilets in the church to bringing you the message. One part can not work perfectly without the other. Yes, it may work for a little while lacking in one area, but just like a fine piece of machinery, one bolt falls out, then everything else starts wearing down trying to over compensate for the broken part. Eventually, the whole machine will just quit. Don't be the bolt that has fallen out. Don't be the part that is not working up to par, causing the whole system to break down.
Acts 6.vs 1-4....Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the "Hellenists", because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the HOLY SPIRIT, and wisdom,whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word......
You see there was grumbling going on with one group about the other group not taking care of their widows. We always want to complain about what is not being done, but how many times are we willing to step up to the plate to see that this area is taken care of, in other words why are we not doing it? We saw it needed doing! Like passing by a piece of paper someone has thrown down and not stooping to pick it up and throw away but instead going into church and saying, those building and grounds people are not doing their job, I saw paper thrown down in the foyer!
Just because we have been given one gift does not mean we can not lend a hand in another area when needed and when we have the know how. (everyone has the know how to pick up a piece of paper and throw in the trash)
You see, every part is important, we have been given different gifts, if we do not use what the Lord has given us, He will not take them away, but they will wither and die. It is like something that looses its fizz, like a bottle of coke that has been left open too long but not being drank. It looses its fizz and then is no longer desirable to you or to anyone else for that matter. We all have been given a gift, from knowing how to organize to leading the choir, to scrubbing the toilets. (yes, some people do know how to clean better than others). Whatever your gift is, singing, playing an instrument, prayer warrior, or just being that person on the other end of the prayer line that knows how to just listen.
Re-activate your gift today. Start polishing it up, and perfecting it, so that you may glorify God with what He gave you to use for the glory of His Kingdom (not just for entertaining yourself).


Neta

Thursday, January 17, 2008

How Can There Be Anything Left to Doubt?


While reading in the book of John, I was so moved by the prayer Jesus prayed for each of us. Did you get that? Each of us, that means you, you, and you and me!!!!
John 17 vs 20-26....."I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one; I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."
"Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."......
That has to be the most beautiful part of the word. The passage before is Jesus praying for His disciples to the Father. But, then He doesn't stop there. No, He says, and while I am at it Father, I also want all believers to have the same promise. It is My desire that all believers be one in Us, as You and I are one, so they may be one in Us also.
Can you get that? Jesus is telling God the Father that He does not just want His disciples to be in eternity with Him, but He wants all believers with Him and the Father. If that doesn't give you a peace and understanding about where you will be spending eternity, then maybe we need to check to see why you do not include yourself in this passage. The only way you could not be included in this prayer of Jesus to the Father, is if you are not a believer. I pray that each of you know Jesus as your personal savior, and have developed a relationship with Him and the Father, so that you too can have this peace.
Jesus is also saying that all the people, we give the word to, and share Him, and bring them to know Him as their savior are included also. This is an endless promise. This is a promise for as long as we are here on this earth and able to spread the good news about our Lord. The more of your friends and family that you share the word with, the more that accept Jesus as their personal savior the more we will be spending eternity with one day. My personal wish, is that everyone I come to know and even ones I do not know personally that I deal with will come to Love the Lord as their personal savior. I want to be just like Jesus, I want to walk in Love and love everyone unconditionally just like He did, I want to be able to see past their flaws, and only see them as He does. How about you? Wouldn't you love to walk in that kind of love? What a world this would be, if all Christians could really walk in the love Jesus walked in! WOW!
Read the book of John this week, take your time, and let it sink in. Over and over in this book Jesus tells us one thing, that He leaves us with this one command, to Love One Another! Let's all read it until we get it.


Neta

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Growing Old Gracefully



What does this really mean? We say we want to just grow old gracefully. Well, if we truly mean this, then we have to take the word of God and believe what He is telling us. In other words, we cannot continue to claim aches, pains, and illnesses over ourselves. For example, we say, well, I am over 50, or 60, or I have even heard people in their 40's start claiming aches and pains over their bodies. We laugh about it, and make jokes about "old Arthur" is coming to visit me regularly now, well, when you say that, you are speaking that disease over yourself, and Jesus said He died for "ALL" diseases, sicknesses, illnesses, etc. so why are you claiming that over yourself. We say, these old bones, and muscles just don't want to get up and go any more. The Lord, says they should last us for about 120 years. God says, man should live an average of 120 years.
Genesis 6 vs 3...and the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.".....
Let's see what else the word says:
Deuteronomy 34 vs 7....Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished....
This is telling us that Moses was 120 years old and he didn't seem to have any old age problems. Why? Because of his Faith in the LORD. That is what it all comes down to. How strong your faith is in the LORD, will determine how badly your bones, muscles, joints, etc. ache and age as you grow older in years.
One scripture that comes to mind, is in Mark when Jesus and the disciples were in the boat and the storm came up and Jesus was sleeping peacefully, and the disciples ran to get Him, when the wind started getting really bad, because they were afraid. Well, in the first part of that scripture, Jesus says, "Let us cross over to the other side", since they had not made it to the other side yet, why were they afraid? If Jesus said "Let us cross over to the other side" then they had to make it to the other side, otherwise Jesus would have lied. And we know that is not going to happen.
In other words, they did not have the faith to get to the other side even after Jesus said that is where they were going.
Mark 4 vs 35....On the same day when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side,"....
Mark 4 vs 37...and a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was asleep in the stern on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"...
Mark 4 vs 39-40... Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"......
You might say, what does that have to do with growing old gracefully, well everything, It all comes down to where your faith level is, and if you are living for the Lord or not.
Prov. 3 vs 7-8...Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones....
In other words, get your eyes off the circumstances and start claiming what His word says about your health, and your flesh will be healthy, and your bones strong.
Prov. 18 vs 20-21... A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue,and those who love it will eat its fruit....
You can not continue to claim these illnesses over yourself with your mouth, you are speaking these things into being. Stop saying negative things about yourself and start claiming the promises over yourself, that you are healed from anything this world tries to throw at you. Your Lord and Savior has already paid that bill. So quit trying to pick it up.
Jesus said, He will finish the work He started in you, so do you really think He wants His work to walk around all stooped over and complaining all the time until the end of the race. He said, He made your strength to be renewed like the eagles. You do not see eagles moping around on the ground, No, you see them flying high with wings spread out as if to say "Look at me LORD" I am the workmanship of Your hands. A work He can be proud of. That is how I want to look and feel at the end of my time. A workmanship my Lord can be proud of.


Neta


Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Who are you singing for?



When we sing at church, be it in the choir or out in the congregation, who are we really singing for. Are we trying to out sing the lady next to us, because we think our voice is so much better than hers? (anyone who knows me, knows that I can't carry a tune) Or are we getting into the groove of the music and singing because we know all the words?
John 4 vs 23-24....."Yet a time is coming and has now come, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.
So when we say we are singing to worship the LORD,
Are we really singing out of our heart to the Lord and not even aware of the people around us? Are we truly worshiping the Lord? Well, if you say you are singing to praise and worship the Lord then I hope you are paying attention to all the words that you are singing. Because what you are doing is promising Him that you are going to do whatever the words you are singing say. For instance the song, "We've come to Worship You", this song says: [ Lord, we've come to worship you, we've come to lay down our lives at your feet, we've come to honor You and offer You our praise. So our hands go up and our hearts go out and our voices rise with a glorious shout, we're delighted to sacrifice everything.] Now after singing that, we have told Him that we will gladly sacrifice everything. Did you really mean it? Everything? That means TV shows that are not pleasing unto Him, hanging out in those places or with those people who are not pleasing to Him, going to R rated movies, and I have to say some PG movies. Giving up some of your time to Him, instead of watching that ball game, or whatever else your choice of TV might be. Or it may be going hunting or fishing on Sunday instead of going to worship Him in His house like you said you would in the song. And how many of you really lift up holy hands to praise your King? Yet you will stand up and do the wave at a ball game and not feel ashamed, or hoot and holler at a concert.
We need to really think about the words we are singing unto Him, and not just read the words on the screen or out of those hymnals. Get a good Christian CD and listen to the words carefully, search your heart and see if you can indeed sing those words to Christ yourself. Not just because you might have a good voice, but because you truly mean what you are singing.
This week at church, lift up your voices and your hands and give Him the praise and worship He deserves.
Neta

Monday, January 14, 2008

Are you just an old clay pot or a warped vessel of wood?


What sort of vessel do you see yourself as? In 2 Tim 2 vs 15-17.......Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer...... 2Tim 2 vs 19- 21........Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal; The LORD knows those who are His, and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyones cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work...... This passage is telling us to diligently present ourself to the LORD. How can we do this, if we are trying to keep up with the things of this world? It also tells us to stay away from those who gossip, use profanity, and are living like the devil himself. It refers to this kind of behavior like a cancer that will eat away at you.Wouldn't you rather be a gold or silver vessel, something that will not deteriorate so easily?Have you ever seen a clay pot that was left outside in the elements over the winter. When water sits in it and then freezes then thaws out again, eventually it breaks the pot and causes it to crumble. Or wood that is not made for the outside elements will warp when left out in the rain to get wet. Do you want to be a warped vessel of wood, or a crumbled up pot that can't hold the word of God in you? You see when you keep going back and forth into sin, like watching something on TV that is really not suitable, or an R rated movie with bad language, etc. and then going to church on Sunday, then you are like a clay pot, holding water (the good), then it freezes (sin sets in) and then you thaw out (when you go back to church on Sunday) and if you keep this up, eventually you will crumble and give in to the sin. Or even being a vessel of wood, that gets warped over and over from stepping out into the elements of the world, eventually you will be so warped in your mind that you can not distinguish any longer good from bad, and you will give in to the sin you are playing in. You have to remove yourself from those situations and start living an approved life unto God. The good news, is that we can all be vessels of gold and silver, one that is approved of the LORD, and pleasing to Him, by living like the word tells us to live, and not living like the rest of the world. Polish up your vessel today by getting into His word, and staying away from those things that are not approved and suitable for His Kingdom.


Neta

Friday, January 11, 2008

Could you commit?

Today, while listening to the LORD, I was thinking about how when Jesus asked the disciples can you not stay awake and pray with me for 1 hour? ( I think He probably said something like, good grief, can you not give me one stinking hour?) But that is just me!
Anyway, after a lot of thinking on this passage, I came to the conclusion, how much time do I actually give to Him, and Him alone? How long do I spend in my prayer time? How long do I spend in His word each day. Now take that and compare it to how long do I watch TV each day? OUCH!
He really stepped on my toes with that one. And then, I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to a commitment, that I immediately tried to rationalize and talk my way out of. The commitment being no TV for the next 21 days. (You may ask, why 21 days, well they say that is how long it takes to create a habit. If you do something for 21 days straight, it could become a habit for you.)
Immediately I was reminded of my movie coming on Sunday night, and I thought well maybe I will start after Sunday. Just as quickly, the Holy Spirit in me said, (can't even give Him 21 days) UGH!
And then I thought well, I have to watch 60 minutes or the nightly news to keep up with the candidates for president so I can be well informed as to how to vote on election day. The Holy Spirit once again says (can you trust me to lead you in who to vote for?) UMph! So I said, well, I'll just watch the 5pm news so I can keep up with the weather. (You guessed it, The Holy Spirit said, (you can't just look out the window?) ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT!
But now, I am scared to commit, because I am afraid of promising the LORD that I will do something, and then faltering. But really, isn't that what we all do, when we ask the LORD into our hearts and tell Him we want to live for Him, but then we are out there living for the world? OUCH again!
For whatever reason the Holy Spirit decided it was my time to become truly committed to living for the Lord today, I can't be sure. All I know is a peace of understanding what He was saying and asking of me came over me so strongly, that it was very exciting instead of frightening to commit to Him for 21 days. I really feel this is going to help me personally to grow in His word and to see the blessings He has for me even more. It is very exciting when you hear His voice and you know He is speaking to you.
As I was listening to our Choir back home singing on a CD, "Draw me Lord" and I'll run unto you" I thought, how many times have we sung that song in church and really meant it? When we sang the words, Draw me Lord, and I'll run unto you, how many of us are running unto Him, or are we running for the nearest Mexican Rest. when we get out of church? Hey don't get mad at me! I am just repeating what the Spirit was saying to me personally, I have no idea if He was talking about you!
Matthew 26 vs 40...then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me for one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
How sad is that? They were right there with Jesus and they could not stay awake for one hour and pray with Him to the Father. He was getting ready to go through something devastating, like giving His life for us all. How many times today do we do the same thing, when someone asks us to pray for them, when they are getting ready to have surgery or some other major event is going on or getting ready to happen in their lives? How many times do we just say a quick prayer and say yes I prayed for you. The next time someone asks you to pray for them, give them an hour of your prayer time to the Father on their behalf. I know you say, I do not have enough time in the day to pray for everyone that asks me to pray for them. No, maybe not, but you could take one hour to pray for all those different people and their causes can't you? Every time I sleep in late, when I know I could be up studying His word or praying during this quiet time of the day, I am reminded of that scripture. And then again today, when I got ready to turn on the TV, BOOM! it hit me again. (Can't you just leave that thing off for a little while?) Today I made a choice to stand up with the LORD, and not sleep in late, or watch TV, but to truly give Him my free time instead of choosing my favorite TV shows. It has been a great day spending it with Him, I can truly say that I have been blessed today.
This may not be something you are able to do, but I encourage you to give it a try. Let us all, see what happens if we turn off the TV for 21 days. The writers went on strike, why can't we, when we have an even better cause?
Pray for me as I will be praying for each of you


Neta

Thursday, January 10, 2008

What is Keeping You Bent Over?




Today, I was reading the scripture passage about the woman with the infirmity that was bent over for eighteen years and could not raise herself straight. Then Jesus saw her and called her over and told her to raise up, she was loosed from her infirmity, and she stood and glorified God.
Now, you may just keep this in a box and think that this passage is talking about osteoporosis, or some other form of muscular disease as to why she could not stand. I didn't get that. To me, this passage was saying we all may have some sort of infirmity that is holding us down, or holding us back from receiving God's blessings in our lives, whether it be in healing in our bodies or our relationships, or finances, etc.
We need to look up to the Lord for our answer, quit looking down and feeling all rejected, or having your pity party for yourself and start looking to Him, through His word for your answer, so that you too may loose the bind that is holding you back.
Luke 13 vs 11-13...and behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could not in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her,"Woman you are loosed from your infirmity". And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight and glorified God.....
This passage is saying, that you may have a spirit of evil in some area of your life that is keeping you from being all that God created you to be, and that you can not loose this on your own, but you need the help of the Lord to raise up. In this way, you may know that it was the LORD who raised you up and not you yourself and the glory be given to HIM. This isn't necessarily a sickness in you, it could be in the form of a displeasing spirit to the Lord. Maybe we need to all humble ourselves, and look at ourselves to see where we can improve our personalities, our demeanor toward others, or maybe just how we look after ourself, instead of looking how we can help others in their needs. Whatever the case may be, we need to look to the Lord and let whatever satan has bound us with be loosed.
It is time to get honest with ourselves and the LORD as to where we can use His help to improve the person we are. And then accept His help and change those areas in our lives that need improving. Once we have received a revelation of what that area is, we need to not go back and get bound up in that area again. Don't stay bent over for eighteen years like the woman in the scripture. Stay loose!



Neta

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Praying in the "Spirit"


Some question this, but I assure you it is scriptural.
Romans * vs 26-28....Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now, He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.....
Now we are the called, not just ministers, pastors, teachers, apostles, but we all of us who are born again Christians are who this passage is talking about being called to His purpose. We should all as Christians have His purpose foremost in our hearts and minds.
You know yourselves, sometimes when you pray, you feel you are praying and praying for something to no avail. Well, maybe we are not praying for what we (need) to pray for first. We need to get quiet and listen and then ask God to strengthen our inner man (the Holy Spirit) living within us. We need to ask God, to let our inner man pray out. This may seem at first like nonsense to you if you are not accustomed to praying in the Spirit, but the word says, "the Spirit Himself makes groanings that cannot be uttered" in other words sounds that you cannot make into natural words. The word says, "He (being Jesus) who searches the hearts (your hearts) knows the mind of the Spirit". Now isn't The Holy Spirit, Jesus and the Father one .
Who better to pray out for us what we need and who knows better what our needs are, than "His Spirit" which abides in us.
I gotta tell you, if that does not get you excited and wanting to get into your prayer closet right now and let the Holy Spirit in you pray out for all your needs and desires, then you need to check your excitement button, it must be turned off or on the fritz.
You didn't just learn to speak overnight did you? No, it took practice and repetition of saying the same words over and over again like learning a foreign language in order to speak enough for others to understand you. But this is different, this is a language that God Himself understands and is not for you yourself to understand. This is between God and the Holy Spirit living in you making intercession on your behalf to the Father to bring about an answer to your prayers.
I encourage you today, go get in your prayer closet and get alone with the Holy Spirit and ask Him to pray out to the Father your petitions.
I know, I have gotten myself so excited, I going right now to my inner man and see what the LORD has in store for me today. HALLELUJAH!!!!!!


Neta

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Are You An Overcomer?

Read 1st John Chapters 4 & 5

Throughout our life times we have overcome something. Whether as a little kid learning to ride a bike, by getting back on every time we fell off. Or as a teenager, getting over that first crush, by moving on with life, and becoming interested in other things and people.
My biggest achievement as an overcomer would be when I gave my life to the LORD and gave up drinking and smoking and hard living.
As a kid, we overcame with practice. But as a teenager and adult we have to overcome by submission. We can either submit to the problem area in our life and let it control us, or we can give our life to the LORD and live like He tells us to do. You may not have had to overcome, alcohol, smoking or other harmful addictions, but you did at some time as a Christian have to make a decision to live for the LORD and become an overcomer of this world.
We all have to overcome the world and the things in the world. We can not do this on our own. We have to have the love of Christ in us. In other words we have to decide His way is better and live that way.
I like what it says in 1st John 5 vs 3-5...For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?.........
I like the part that says His commandments are not burdensome. You see before I became a Christian, I thought Christians were boring and did not know how to have fun. Was I ever wrong?
I have had more fun as a Christian, than ever in my lifetime. (And let me tell you, I thought I was having fun living in sin) but now, as a Christian, I have seen more and done more than I ever could have living in sin. You see I spent so much money on beer, cigarettes, and other things of the world, that I never had enough to enjoy the really good things of the world, the most important being spending time with and getting to know my sons. We are closer now than we ever were in our lifetimes, mainly because I can appreciate them more. I look upon them now as a gift from God, and something He created and not something I created. Another, of my favorites is traveling with my husband. My husband and I have been to 3 other countries, been in 45 states in the US, and have plans to finish the rest of the US and visit more countries. We have seen and appreciated so much of God's creation. The key word here being appreciated. Anybody can look upon something, or someone but to really appreciate something is all together different.
I have had more real relationships with friends than I ever did as a non-believer. I have learned to appreciate different people. I have a whole new outlook on what love is really all about. I thought I knew love before, but until you have experienced the love of Christ personally in your life, you do not know what love is.
I challenge you today, if you are not already an overcomer in Christ, make a change today. Put the things of the world behind you and put Christ first in your life. You will not regret it. I promise.
Neta

Monday, January 7, 2008

All We Can Do is Pray?

How many times have you heard someone say this? This is one of those things that make me cringe when I hear it. Think about that statement for just a minute. All we can do is pray.

Well, Praying should be the first and most important thing you do. Praying is not a last resort, as to what that statement is saying. We as Christians should never say, "all you can do is pray", we should ask first, "have you prayed"? Then we should start immediately praying over the situation. We should begin lifting our prayers up to the LORD. When someone says, "all we can do is pray", it is usually after they have tried everything else on their own strengths and in their own understandings and then resort to prayer as a last ditch effort.

If you catch yourself saying that phrase, stop and correct yourself, and say, "Let's Pray" that is the most important thing we can do right now. Let's give it to God and let Him bring us through. AMEN!

Thank God, Daniel didn't quit praying, or think of it like "all I can do is pray". No, he prayed and prayed and then prayed.

Dan. 6 vs 11...then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.....

Dan. 6 vs 13...so they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."........

They were reporting Daniel to the king, because there had been a decree made that no man may petition or pray to anyone but the king. But Daniel disregarded this order and continued to pray to his GOD. And you know the rest of the story, Daniel was thrown into the lions den, but God shut the mouths of the lions and the next morning Daniel walked out when the king came to release him.

Now just think if Daniel had said, "what am I going to do, I guess all I can do is pray".. That just sounds so whimpery. (I am not sure if that is a word) When you hear someone say that phrase, if you listen, you will hear a whimper in them, a cowardly emotion.

Quit being a wimp, when it comes to fighting your battles. Start coming boldly to the throne with your prayers and supplications and stand up, be brave and embrace the gift that God has given to each one of us as Christians; His strength, His power, His might to do battle through the gift that He gave us a long time ago; the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, who has already took care of anything of this world that might come against you once and for all.

Phil. 4 vs 6...be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God....

Col. 4 vs 2...continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving......

2 Cor. 1 vs 20....for all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us......

Be a Daniel, and have faith knowing that your lions mouth will be shut also.

Neta

Friday, January 4, 2008

The Light of God

Read 1 John Chapter 1

To have fellowship with the Father, we must first have fellowship with the Lord Jesus. As long as we fellowship with the LORD, we do not have to walk in darkness. In fact, if you are fellowshipping with the Lord (abiding in Him) then you can not walk in darkness. That would be contradictory to what the word says.

1 John 1 vs 5-7....This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.......

What do we mean by walking in darkness? It means living an immoral life style that is not in agreement with the Word. When we continue to sin, or whine and complain, or overindulge in things, in other words when we live contrary to how the word tells us to live, then we are walking in darkness. We may think we are in the light, but during the time we are sinning we are in darkness. An easy way to know if you are living right is to ask yourself daily, am I being the best Christian I can be today, is what I am doing pleasing to the LORD? If you answer no, then you might want to turn around, confess what you are doing wrong and turn your light back on before you stumble off into something deeper and darker.

Quit carrying around a flash light to see your way, and start leaving your light on bright and shining. God has no problem paying the light bill.

Neta


Wednesday, January 2, 2008

The New Year, The New Man, The New You!!!

Well, it's that time of year again, when we feel we have to make a resolution as to what we are going to do better, or just start doing in the coming new year. Why do we feel we have to make these resolutions? When probably none of us keep them. Oh, yah, we may start out good, doing like we said we were, but then after the new wears off, we are back to where we were before. "Usually" Now there are some that probably do keep their resolutions. I can't think of any, but maybe you know someone. HA!

While doing my devotional, yesterday I was reading in Col. 3 and I thought if we would just live like Christ has instructed us to do, we would not have to make resolutions, because we would be living right already and we would not let bad habits come into our lives.

So I was thinking if we would just do this one simple thing for the next year, we would not have to worry about all those other pointless resolutions. Read Col. 3 vs 1-17 everyday. Cut it out and laminate it and start your day off with these words and you will fall into line with what you are suppose to do and you will not want to do the things that harm you.

Col. 3 vs 1-17....If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek, nor Jew circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
...Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the LORD. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD the FATHER through HIM.........

That pretty much covers it all, if we act accordingly, we should have no need of other resolutions. What better resolution could be made, than to be more like JESUS in the next year? And in that last line...whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the LORD JESUS giving thanks to GOD the FATHER through HIM.....
This is telling us that if we stop and think about what we are about to say or do, and question is this something that I can do in the LORD's name, is this something that will be pleasing to the LORD when I say or do it? And if we answer NO, then we need to stop and not say or do whatever we were about to do. Let us slow down our pace and live more like Christ, not in such a rush all the time, but in more of a slower more peaceful mode, so as to have sufficient time to make the right call. Quit letting the world and the things of the world rush you into bad decisions. Take time to seek first what God has to say before you make a decision. I know if I had done this in many decisions of my life, I would not have made so many of the mistakes that I made, and I would not have missed out on so many of the blessings the LORD had for me. We need to be patient and wait on the LORD for His answer to our cares and quit trying to work things out on our own. So many times we throw in the towel just when the LORD was getting ready to let our season come.

Let the LORD bless you in this next year, let Him bring your season to pass in His timing and not your own. Cast your cares, and then don't take them back. Take time to make the right decisions in all areas of your life. Seek Him First!

Have a Blessed and Prosperous New Year and in all your decisions, Seek Him First!


Neta